While I believe the cost of Eclipse and FCU to be comparable to each other, based on my observations, teams are noticeably more diverse on the Eclipse side. Now that both Eclipse teams will be training within a few miles of FCU, it will be interesting to see if there is a change on the number of diverse players at these clubs, given that driving distance will no longer be a differentiating factor.
I pretty much agree with your ranking although I don't know what US Club Midwest Regionals is. You are currently ranking USYS ahead of ECNL. Do you expect that to change in the future? My assumption is that ECNL would be better but maybe it's too new. DS club will be the second boy's ECNL club in Minnesota starting with 21-22.
For now USYS is harder but in a few years who knows how much better boys ECNL can become. Overall, toughest competition to win a National Championship 1. MLS Next 2. USYS 3. Boys ECNL 4. US Club Soccer.
I think it’s important that you first differentiate between the two competitions US Club Midwest regionals and NPL finals. To clarify us club Midwest regional is a competition that any team regardless of level can apply for and participate in. NPL regionals is where teams must finish top of their NPL league to qualify, in this case NISL. Us club regionals is not the standard for us club competition in the midwest. NPL is. I have seen prem 2 Nisl team from Sockers destroy a usys “national champion” from Galaxy. Ecnl boys in the midwest is in my opinion significantly below the NPL. Girls side usys is stronger than us club ut on the boys side us club is much better IMO
Unlikely this year because the Ecnl pool and GA / mls next pools are likely set for 2021/2022. But upset players and parents may make a decision to move mid season if things get bad. But any movement would likely be in 2022/2023 and that’s dependent on eclipse still being in Northbrook at that time. Rumor is oakbrook is a stop gap until a more central location can be found.
“have seen prem 2 Nisl team from Sockers destroy a usys “national champion” from Galaxy.” At a mid season tournament or something? Galaxy, Libertyville and Raiders all typically have very good teams at the high school ages.
“have seen prem 2 Nisl team from Sockers destroy a usys “national champion” from Galaxy.” This might be the dumbest thing I’ve ever read in my life and it’s crazy to see how one could actually lie like this. NISL/NPL are not even close to being as tough as USYS. For U15s (2006) Prem 1 in NISL this spring, the teams that finished top 2 (Chicago Fire Juniors & Addison United) did not even qualify to USYS Regionals. In 2019 Eclipse 2004s lost the Illinois State Cup Final (which means they didn’t qualify to USYS Regionals) but they ended up making it to the ENPL National Final. How is US Club harder if a team that couldn’t even qualify to USYS Regionals ended up making it to the US Club Soccer National Final, this literally proves that USYS is a tougher competition. Like I’ve said before on the boys side the toughest competitions to win a National Championship in - 1. MLS Next 2. USYS 3. Boys ECNL 4. US Club Soccer (NPL)
Fire boys in u19 MLS final and Eclipse girls in u19 ECNL final. Maybe the demise of Chicago soccer has been exaggerated.
I reffed the game up at shattuck showcase . It has been a few year however from what I have seen it has not changed significantly. This may be an outlier due to Sockers depth rather than the standard. I’m just stating my professional opinion based on what I witnessed.
Fire win the inaugural MLS Next u19 championship. Seems like Chicago might have decent talent. https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/four-mls-next-cup-champions-crowned-at-inaugural-tournament
Congrats to the U19s on winning the National Championship & representing Chicago proudly. I hope I heard this wrong , but are the Fire dropping the U18/U19 age group for the upcoming MLSNEXT season?
Relevant local awards: Awards: 2021 MLS Next Cup by Soccer America U-16s: Golden Boot: Chase Vazquez (Weston FC), Luke Van Heukelum (Sockers FC), Best Goalkeeper: Philip Falcon (Tampa Bay United), Golden Ball: Benjamin Cremaschi (Weston FC). U-19s: Golden Boot: Missael Rodriguez (Chicago Fire), Best Goalkeeper: Martin Dominguez (Solar SC), Golden Ball: Sergio Oregel (Chicago Fire).
DG out at Sockers - now at Inferno. Too say that Sockers shuffled the deck on coaches is a minimal at best. We'll see if that works out. Can confirm - Dave Lovercheck out at Eclipse and now with Campton. They (Eclipse) have lost a few as well during the "Covid Correction".
No... I've said our region is one of the weakest. However I have mentioned this team on many occasions as being exceptional. I know a few of these players families for years.
Yes, congrats to the Fire U-19 team. Seems Fire has recently been ranked 2nd or 3rd in Chicago, compared to other academies lately, so good to see how these kids play in a very high level competitive setting. Rumor is that the U18/U19 team may be getting dropped because they are joining the new "reserve" league. Not sure of the details but I would assume most of these boys would be playing this league if they are good enough. Unfortunately, it will leave some of the boys who they do not feel are enough quality to find another home for their senior year.
Hello! New user here. The Fire Academy is dropping the U19, keeping U17 and adding U23. So they will have U13, U14, U15, U17 and U23. Lots of great players will be available going forward, in my humble opinion. Congrats to the Fire U19's! Awesome tournament in Texas, and an awesome final!
My sons 04 squad played that Eclipse team in '19. That team finished 3rd or worse in NPL Prem 2. Besides that, I don't know that you can draw these conclusions from a few teams. We have now had experience in both leagues and I have two key observations. First, NISL/NPL, I saw much more posession style and building out . So far in USYS, even the club v club games I saw, not so much Secondly, to me it looks like our 04 USYS Midwest league divisions seem as much lined up on proximity as they might be on ability. There are a few prem1/2 that I think are weaker than a few of the lower division teams I saw play. Also, you left out Club vs. Club! I'm not impressed with the concept... Playing more regional teams in USYS versus every week local at Olympic Park(NPL/NISL)feels more worldly but we've been to enough tournaments to see you can travel many miles to find bad soccer! Lastly, why are we trying to make comparisons? Throwing out the monopoly of MLSN, there's all kind of talent out there , individual players, teams. clubs? meh... lol I saw a kid from Wisconsin this season in a Select game. I'm guessing he was playing on the closest or only team he can commute to. Clearly this kid will play at the next level...
Eclipse 2008’s and 2009’s should be very competitive at the national level for years to come. Lots of talent on both of those teams.
The top 2004 boys Eclipse West team has never played in the Prem 2. The team you are most likely referring to is the 2004/2005 2nd/3rd team comprised of east/west kids.
Some have asked about Super Y, and I suppose I should post this in the Super Y thread, too. My DS, U11, played his first Super Y game. I asked him afterwards how it compared to what he's experienced before. For context, he played YSSL Tier 3 and 4 this Spring 2021, with both of his teams finishing top 3 in each. Also remember that he's moving from 7v7 to 9v9. He said that the play is much faster than he experienced in YSSL. I'll be curious if he continues to hold that view. Let's face it, it's a new team to him where he's had three weeks of training with them. And a lot of the faces on his own team haven't even shown up for practice. His mother and I are supremely frustrated that his team, which was supposed to top out at 13, suddenly has 17 and some of the kids who have never shown up to practice suddenly started the first game. Luckily, my son was far more positive about the experience and was pleased with how much playing time he got. I think he sees what he needs to do to get better, and is looking forward to the challenge. Me? I didn't think it looked much faster than YSSL 3, but then, I'm not the one out there.
3&4 of the YSSL is rather low when compared to Super Y teams - not surprised the play is faster. Not jamming the level of play you are in for YSSL but honestly, that's about the place I would assume kids show up when they want. That being said - if your player likes Super Y - sees better play and more of a commitment, then I would switch teams/clubs altogether.